All posts for the month June, 2013

She could tell he was one of the Archangels, just by looking at him. Something about the way he held his head; about the way he folded his arms across his chest – and looked utterly unfazed by everything happening around him. Admittedly, the sword hanging from his waist and the glowing sigil on his wrist helped.

The symbol was familiar, but even if that hadn’t given him away, the scent that hung around him, cutting through the smoke, probably would have done. He smelled like cut grass and tomato leaves, like old books and poster paint, like tarmac baking in the sun. He smelled like the past, like childhood. Like memories.

Every one of those names is a life. A life now lost. Some of these souls had none to mourn them, none to remember them. None but me. It is my privilege to do so, just as it was my privilege to care for them in death. These names matter. These ledgers matter.

I’m incredibly pleased to be able to say that BLOOD AND FEATHERS has been shortlisted in two categories of this year’s British Fantasy Awards: for the Sydney J. Bounds Award for Best Newcomer, and for the Robert Holdstock Award for Best Fantasy Novel.

I’m stunned and delighted – and my thanks to everyone who included the book on their list of nominees (the BFA shortlists are nominated by members of the British Fantasy Society and the previous year’s FantasyCon) and to everyone at Solaris. It’s a weird feeling – but a wonderful one.

The Bookwhales have put REBELLION under their spotlight, and are also hosting an exclusive extract from the book. Head on over to their site to meet the Archangel Zadkiel and catch a first glimpse of No Man’s Land…

Zadkiel frowned, closing his eyes, and the lines on his face deepened. “The things these people remember, Michael. The things they’ve seen. The Fallen aren’t running. They’re taunting us. The war’s not over, it just escalated. I didn’t even know that was possible! They’re not content with the scraps any longer. They want it all. And we’ve made sure that they have absolutely nothing to lose.”